Subject: EC School Board Meeting TONIGHT Date: Mon, 2 May 2005 09:27:41 -0500 Message-ID: <B14120EE5C432443B21102F7925DAD020235F4DC@COKE.uwec.edu> From: "Hale, C. Kate" <HALECL@uwec.edu>
A regularly scheduled meeting of the school board will take place this
evening. Their agenda looks pretty full
http://www.ecasd.k12.wi.us/distinfo/agenda/agenda.asp
and I see no reference for tonight to a discussion of the uproar over
Beth's class. Still, if you would like to get some positive feedback to
the board BEFORE this meeting, you can email President Carol Olson at
If you want to Cc the other board members, keep the "@" part of the
address and replace colson with user names:
mkneer, jevans, ljoyal, rjanke, bwogahn
Also one other board member uses mobrien@wrpr.com rather than the ecase
email address.
In solidarity,
Kate Hale
English
-----Original Message-----
From: sfpj-request@listserve.uwec.edu on behalf of Wesenberg, Nancy
Christine
Sent: Mon 02-May-05 8:49 AM
To: Nowlan, Robert A.; SFPJ
Subject: RE: F.Y.I.
I will certainly do something do defend Beth as soon as possible.
Somehow I missed all this going on. Too much elder care, I guess.
Nancy Wesenberg
Communication Specialist
News Bureau
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
(715) 836-4423
-----Original Message-----
From: sfpj-request@listserve.uwec.edu
[mailto:sfpj-request@listserve.uwec.edu] On Behalf Of Nowlan, Robert A.
Sent: Friday, April 29, 2005 1:53 PM
To: SFPJ
Subject: FW: F.Y.I.
Colleagues,
Many of you are undoubtedly aware of the difficulty Memorial High School
teacher Beth Franklin currently faces as a result of parental protests
of her showing photos of a transgendered person from our community in
one of her classes. Beth writes below asking for people to help out in
opposition to these attempts at censure and censorship, and I am sure
will appreciate whatever you can do to help.
Bob
-----Original Message-----
From: danfreund@fastmail.fm [mailto:danfreund@fastmail.fm]
Sent: Friday, April 29, 2005 11:34 AM
To: Mike Tvaruzka; Jill Schilling; Nowlan, Robert A.; Ann Heywood;
Franklin Nathan Scott; Charles Jordan; Fairbanks, Carol L.; Unknown;
Mike Tvaruzka; ACLU; Passell, Nicholas; O'Connor, Edith
Subject: F.Y.I.
Hi Friends-
As many of you know, much media attention has focused on my short
discussion of a transgender person in my English class on Thursday,
April 14th.
This
media attention has been brought on by a concerned group of parents, and
the School Board has been inundated with emails, letters, and phone
calls, almost all of which have been negative. This group of parents is
concerned with addressing "sexual perversion" and my "twisted sexual
views" in the classroom.
My intent of showing these photos, as most of you know, was to draw
awareness to people who are perceived differently and to make students
think critically about harassment, tolerance, and acceptance. This
lesson was in line with the School District's core values of Compassion,
Respect, and Justice. It was using a teachable moment.
It's time to act. Those closest to me advise that it's time to no
longer sit silently. It's time for us to express our support in
different forums.
I am humbly asking you for a call to action:
Please:
1. Write a letter to School Board President Carol Olson 2. Write a
letter to the Editor of the Leader Telegram 3. Call in and respond to
the Leader Telegram's Question of the Week :
"Did
a Memorial English Teacher cross the line in having a class discussion
on a
friends sex change surgery?" Call 831-2000 Choose selection 1030
If you would like further details about the incident or have questions
for me, PLEASE feel free to call me or email me. My phone number is
271-0984.
I ask that you circulate this email to like-minded, supportive people
who might, too, take it upon themselves to write a letter.
You are free, of course, to write what you wish in these letters. I
would suggest, perhaps, that the focus of the letter be more broad than
my five minute class discussion and address the real issues here-- the
need for teachers who are willing to give more than lip service to
tolerance and acceptance in the classroom. The need to teach students
to be critical thinkers, problem solvers, and open-minded young people
who will grow into thoughtful adults. The issue of academic freedom.
I have been humbled by your support already, and ask that if you feel
strongly about this, please write a letter of support. It's time that
the School Board and Eau Claire community hear our side. Thank you so
very much.
Beth Franklin
.
- - -
I am only one; but still, I am one.
I cannot do everything; but still, I can do something.
- Edward Everett Hale (Unitarian minister)